South Boston Speedway, Langley Speedway and Martinsville Speedway have joined forces in 2012 to offer area race fans a unique tripleheader — the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown Series.

The Virginia Late Model Triple Crown Series will consist of the season-opening NASCAR Whelen Late Model 300 Presented by Danville Toyota at South Boston Speedway on March 10, the Langley Hampton Heat 200 on July 28 in Hampton, Va. and the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 on Oct. 21 at Martinsville Speedway.

All three races already feature big-money payouts, but the implementation of the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown Series will add an even bigger bonus for three drivers and a ton of hype and excitement for the region’s short track racing fans.

The NASCAR Whelen Late Model 300 Presented by Danville Toyota and the Langley Heat 200 each feature $10,000 payouts for the first-place finishers at those events and the winner of the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 claims a $25,000 payday.

The winner of the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown Series this year will receive an additional $5,000. The runner-up in the competition will claim $3,000 and the third-place finisher will receive $2,000.

The Virginia Late Model Triple Crown Series was established to reward the top finishers in the three “big-money” races at South Boston, Langley and Martinsville. Points will be awarded to competitors based on their finish in the “feature” race at each site and the points will be applied using the standard NASCAR Whelen All-American Series point structure.

The driver with the highest point total over the course of the three races will claim the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown Series title.

South Boston Speedway General Manager Cathy Rice said fans and competitors were already thrilled that the NASCAR Whelen Late Model 300 Presented by Danville Toyota would be kicking off the 2012 season at America’s Hometown Track and the addition of the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown Series would only add to the hype for that event.

“We are certainly proud to be a part of the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown Series,” Rice said. “There is already a lot of excitement and anticipation surrounding our season-opening NASCAR Whelen Late Model 300 Presented by Danville Toyota race on Saturday, March 10, and the announcement of the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown Series just adds to the hype for our event.

“We know that the region’s best Late Model Stock Car drivers will be on hand for the NASCAR Whelen Late Model 300 Presented by Danville Toyota and it will be exciting to see who gets a victory in what we refer to as the short track version of the Daytona 500 and who will emerge as the early leaders in the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown Series,” Rice added.

Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said the news of the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown Series would make the event at his speedway even more enticing for the fans and competitors.

“We are really excited about the Virginia Triple Crown Series,” Campbell said. “We all know how big NASCAR Whelen Late Model Stock racing in Virginia is and this is just going to make it bigger.

“And, from a selfish point of view, with the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 being the final race in the Triple Crown, it’s going to make our race more exciting than ever,” Campbell added.

Bill Mullis, owner of Langley Speedway, said he believed the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown Series would become an annual event that fans and competitors alike would look forward to.

“The staff and management of these three outstanding facilities are pleased and confident the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown Series will become an annual event that highlights and promotes the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and the dozens of talented drivers who race in the series week after week,” Mullis said. “It’s safe to say we’ll see some NASCAR Sprint Cup stars of tomorrow in this year’s Virginia Late Model Triple Crown Series and Langley Speedway is proud to be part of this great series.”

For more information visit the South Boston Speedway Web site or phone the track at (434) 572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540.